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Dozens killed in Egypt's 'day of rage'

Several thousand Brotherhood supporters marched through downtown this afternoonViolence returned to the streets of Cairo todayAn injured protester is carried away to safetyEgyptian military armoured vehicles stand guard at a checkpoint on the edge of Tahrir SquareSupporters of Mohammed Mursi gathered at the Fateh Mosque in Ramses Square ahead of the 'march of anger'Egyptian military police man a checkpoint in Alexandria's coastal promenade as security measures were tightened across the countryA coffin is carried inside the al-Amin mosque in Cairo

Muslim Brotherhood protests plunged into violence across Egypt today, with around 50 killed in Cairo alone on a "Day of Rage".

Islamist followers of ousted president Mohammed Mursi called the protest to denounce Wednesday's police crackdown in which hundreds of people died.

The army deployed dozens of armoured vehicles on major roads in the capital as a crowd of several thousand marched through downtown this afternoon.

Anger on the streets was directed at army commander General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who moved against Mr Mursi last month after massive street rallies against his administration.

The Interior Ministry had warned that police would use live ammunition against anyone threatening public buildings.

Tear gas was fired and shooting was heard where pro-Mursi supporters were protesting.

Two witnesses said they saw protesters throw petrol bombs at a police station near the square.

A Reuters photographer said security forces opened fire from numerous directions when the station was attacked.

More than 40 people were also killed in provincial cities, taking the overall toll close to 100.

A security official said 24 policemen had been killed and 15 police stations attacked since late yesterday.

A police conscript was killed in a drive-by shooting in the north of the capital, state news agency MENA reported.

Nile TV showed footage of a gunman among Islamist protesters firing from a central Cairo bridge.

Showing no sign of wanting to back down, the Brotherhood called for a week of daily marches across the country.

A national state of emergency remains in place, as well as a dusk to dawn curfew.

Brotherhood vows to not retreat

The Muslim Brotherhood called for today's nationwide march of millions to show anger at Wednesday’s security crackdown.

At least 623 people died and thousands were wounded when police cleared out two protest camps in Cairo in protest at the overthrow of Mr Mursi.

The Brotherhood said it would not retreat in its showdown with General Sisi.

"After the blows and arrests and killings that we are facing, emotions are too high to be guided by anyone," said Brotherhood spokesman Gehad El-Haddad.

The Brotherhood accuses the military of staging a coup when it ousted Mr Mursi.

However, liberal and youth activists who backed the military saw the move as a positive response to public demands.

But some fear Egypt is turning back into the kind of police state that kept the disgraced Hosni Mubarak in power for 30 years before his removal in 2011.

In calling for a "Day of Rage," the Brotherhood used the same name as that given to the most violent day of the uprising against Mubarak.

That day, 28 January 2011, marked the protesters' victory over the police, who were forced to retreat.

In a counter move, a loose liberal and leftist coalition, the National Salvation Front, called on Egyptians to protest today against what it said was "obvious terrorism actions" conducted by the Brotherhood.

Western governments urged restraint and Germany cautioned the new government that it was reviewing its ties.

By contrast, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah said his country stood with Egypt in its battle against "terrorism".